Plateau 1790 - 1805

This is a silver plateau crafted by Benjamin Halsted in the late 18th or early 19th century, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its octagonal form immediately strikes you. Consider how the flat, reflective surface contrasts with the delicate, almost lace-like border. Note the subtle interplay between angularity and curvature. Halsted disrupts the rigid geometry of the octagon with a scalloped edge, a gesture towards ornamentation that also softens the overall form. The material, silver, invites reflections and refractions, literally mirroring the world around it. It's not merely an object, but a surface that engages with its environment. This plateau exists as a meeting point between form and function, between surface and space. It challenges the viewer to consider how objects not only occupy space but also actively define it. Ultimately, Halsted’s plateau prompts a broader understanding of how we perceive our surroundings, suggesting that even the simplest forms can stimulate complex aesthetic and philosophical inquiries.